Teamsters, Car Haulers Settle

The Teamsters union and companies that haul new cars to dealerships nationwide announced agreement Wednesday on a four-year contract.

The tentative agreement, which Teamsters officials said they expect will be ratified by union members within a few weeks, averted a threatened strike that could have sharply slowed car sales.

The car haulers’ contract dispute was the first test at the bargaining table for James P. Hoffa since he was sworn in in March as head of the union once led by his late father, James R. Hoffa.